Electronics assembly systems customer benefit modeling tools and methods

Abstract

Methods and tools for quickly and accurately performing complex customer benefit modeling for an electronic components assembly system are disclosed. In one embodiment, predefined user interfaces allow a consultant, customers, salespersons, or line designers to input a line configuration by selecting from a list predefined objects that represent specific line components. In addition, the user inputs other line configuration data specific to the line being configured. The information contained in the user interface is extracted for use a discrete event simulator. Templates for simulation objects may be created in advance and populated with data from the input interface. A simulation is built and run. Simulation results may be exported to an output means, which may allow for custom generated reports. The reporting means may include a means for allowing customer specific information and data to be inputted.

1. A method for modeling an electronic components assembly system, the method comprising:
 representing equipment having specific operating parameters in a proposed line configuration; 
 for each piece of equipment in the proposed line configuration, associating values for the specific operating parameters; 
 building a simulation; 
 running the simulation on a computer; and 
 generating a report for the simulation, 
 wherein the steps of representing the equipment having specific operating parameters in a proposed line configuration, associating values for the specific operating parameters for each piece of equipment in the proposed line configuration, and building a simulation are performed within approximately thirty minutes. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of building the simulation further comprises building simulation objects from templates. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the templates are completed with values for specific operating parameters. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of customizing the simulation report. 
     
     
       5. A method for configuring an electronics assembly system, comprising the steps of:
 a. generating a model of an assembly system having a first configuration; 
 b. selecting a measure of performance for the assembly system; 
 c. selecting a criterion for the evaluation of the measured performance of the assembly system; 
 d. running the model on a computer to generate a performance measure for the system having the first configuration; 
 e. testing whether the measure of performance satisfies the criterion; and 
 f. if in the test of step d the criterion is not satisfied, modifying the configuration, 
 wherein the performance measure is a cost of ownership of the electronics assembly system. 
 
     
     
       6. A method for configuring an electronics assembly system, comprising the steps of:
 a. generating a model of an assembly system having a first configuration; 
 b. selecting a measure of performance for the assembly system; 
 c. selecting a criterion for the evaluation of the measured performance of the assembly system; 
 d. running the model on a computer to generate a performance measure for the system having the first configuration; 
 e. testing whether the measure of performance satisfies the criterion; and 
 f. if in the test of step d the criterion is not satisfied, modifying the configuration, 
 wherein the model is generated within approximately one half hour. 
 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the criterion is a value for the cost of ownership of the electronics assembly system. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the model represents the assembly system at the material flow level of abstraction. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the step of generating the model comprises the steps of:
 selecting components from a set of such components that have been at least partially modeled in advance and; 
 entering values corresponding to the selected, at least partially modeled components, 
 wherein the selected components and entered values serve as the basis for a simulation of the system. 
 
     
     
       10. A method for configuring an electronics assembly system, comprising the steps of:
 a. generating a model of an assembly system having a first configuration; 
 b. selecting a measure of performance for the assembly system; 
 c. selecting a criterion for the evaluation of the measured performance of the assembly system; 
 d. running the model on a computer to generate a performance measure for the system having the first configuration; 
 e. testing whether the measure of performance satisfies the criterion; and 
 f. if in the test of step d the criterion is not satisfied, modifying the configuration, 
 wherein the model is generated using a spreadsheet program in combination with a simulation program. 
 
     
     
       11. A method for configuring an electronics assembly system, comprising the steps of:
 a. generating a model of an assembly system having a first configuration; 
 b. selecting a measure of performance for the assembly system; 
 c. selecting a criterion for the evaluation of the measured performance of the assembly system; 
 d. running the model on a computer to generate a performance measure for the system having the first configuration; 
 e. testing whether the measure of performance satisfies the criterion; and 
 f. if in the test of step d the criterion is not satisfied, modifying the configuration, 
 wherein information relating to at least one method step is transmitted over a network. 
 
     
     
       12. A computer system configured to model an electronic component assembly line, comprising:
 means for selecting, from a predetermined list, specific equipment for a proposed line configuration, the specific equipment having operating parameters; 
 means for associating predetermined values with the operating parameters; 
 means for performing a simulation; and 
 means for generating a report, 
 wherein the means for selecting specific equipment for a proposed line configuration is a spreadsheet. 
 
     
     
       13. The computer system of  claim 12 , wherein the means for associating predetermined values with the operating parameters is a macro that copies values for the operating parameters from a database. 
     
     
       14. The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein the database is a second spreadsheet. 
     
     
       15. The computer system of  claim 14 , wherein the means for performing a simulation is discrete event simulation software. 
     
     
       16. The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the means for generating a report is a third spreadsheet. 
     
     
       17. The computer system of  claim 16 , wherein the third spreadsheet contains user selectable inputs for generating custom reports. 
     
     
       18. A method for assembling an electronic apparatus, comprising:
 a. creating an electronics assembly system configuration by:
 i. selecting assembly system components using a customer benefit modeling approach, 
 ii. purchasing the components, and 
 iii. installing the components; 
 
 b. selecting settings of electronics assembly system parameters using a customer benefit modeling approach; 
 c. imposing those settings on the electronics assembly system; and 
 d. running the electronics assembly system to produce the electronic apparatus, 
 wherein the customer benefit modeling approach comprises generating a model of the electronics assembly system having a given configuration, predicting on a computer a performance measure for the electronics assembly system having the given configuration using the model, comparing the predicted performance measure against a criterion to determine if the criterion is met by the predicted performance, and, if the predicted performance does not meet the criterion, modifying the configuration of the electronics assembly system, and 
 wherein the model comprises a spreadsheet component and a simulation model component. 
 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the model represents the assembly system at the material flow level of abstraction.